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Automatic initializationRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Support, Digital Data Processing System Initialization Or Configuration (e.g., Initializing, Set Up, Configuration, Or Resetting)Automatic initialization description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060064572, Automatic initialization. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/075,542 filed on Mar. 8, 2005 and "Hardware Interlock for SAS Link Usage of Common Context Memory," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/551,675 filed on Mar. 8, 2004 and entitled "Hardware Interlock," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates generally to system initialization, and more particularly, to methods and systems for improved, faster system initialization. [0003] Many integrated circuits (e.g., microprocessors and ASICs (application specific integrated circuits)) include jumpers that allow selection of some of the initialization conditions and settings. The jumpers may also allow a user to select from a set of operating conditions. By way of example, the jumpers can allow setting selected bits to a "1" or a "0" value. During initialization, the IC uses the value of the selected bits to indicate to the IC how to perform certain functions. In another example, the value of the selected bits may indicate which one of two (or more) sets of values the IC should apply to certain registers. Specifically, if a selected bit is jumped to a "1" then the IC loads a first set of values in a first register. Similarly, if the selected bit is jumped to a "0" then the IC loads a second set of values in the first register. [0004] These external jumpers allow the IC some limited configuration. This limited configuration can allow the IC to be used in more than one application. By way of example, setting a first jumper to a "1" value may configure the IC's input/output (I/O) settings to be compatible with a first external circuit or device. By way of example, if the IC is a video processor for a personal computer, setting a first jumper to a "1" value may configure the video processor's I/O to interface with an Intel microprocessor (e.g., x86, Pentium, etc.) where setting the first jumper to a "0" value may configure the video processor's I/O to interface with an AMD microprocessor (e.g., Athalon, etc.). [0005] While the external jumpers allow the IC to be configurable, the number of configurations is limited by the number of pins that can have jumpers applied to them. By way of example, if a given IC has 64 total pins and only 20 of those pins are available for configuration purposes with respective jumpers, then the number of configurations of the IC is limited to the number of combinations of the 20 pins available for configuration purposes. As a direct result, manufacturers of IC's are required to make multiple families of ICs where each IC in the family performs the same core functions but is configurable 20-40 different ways. In this way the manufacturer can market the core functions of the IC that can be applied to as many of the available market applications, as possible. [0006] Unfortunately, while each of these ICs in the IC families include the same core functionality, they cannot be used in every possible application and therefore, added design and production costs are required to produce these families of ICs. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a simpler, more flexible system and method for setting initialization and configuration conditions so as to allow an ICs with a core functionality to be used with more of the available market applications while reducing the design and production costs. SUMMARY [0007] Broadly speaking, the present invention fills these needs by providing a simpler, more flexible system and method for setting IC initialization and configuration conditions. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, computer readable media, or a device. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below. [0008] One embodiment provides a method of initializing an integrated circuit. The method includes initiating the integrated circuit and loading at least one initialization word from storage device. The storage device can be external from the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit can be initialized with at least one data value in the at least one initialization word. [0009] The method can also include calculating a checksum value from the loaded at least one initialization word, determining if the calculated checksum matches an appended checksum. The appended checksum being appended to the at least one initialization word and initializing the integrated circuit with at least one data value in the at least one initialization word if the calculated checksum matches the appended checksum. The method can also include setting a checksum error flag if the calculated checksum does not match the appended checksum. [0010] The external storage device can be an electronically readable and writeable medium. The external storage device can be an EPROM. Initiating the integrated circuit can include at least one of a reset event, a restart event or a power-on event. [0011] The initialization word is electronically readable. The initialization word can be electronically writeable. Loading at least one initialization word from storage device includes determining if the storage device is present. The method can also include determining if a secondary external storage device is present if the external storage device is not present. [0012] The integrated circuit can include a processor and the at least one initialization word can include software executable on the processor. [0013] Another embodiment provides a system including an integrated circuit including at least one initialization register, a first storage device coupled to the at least one initialization register in the integrated circuit via a first bus and at least one initialization word stored in the first storage device. The initialization word being electronically readable and the at least one initialization word being capable of being read into the at least one initialization register upon an initialization event. [0014] The at least one initialization word can be electronically writeable. The system can also include a system processor coupled to the first storage device. The system processor is capable of writing the at least one initialization word into the first storage device. [0015] The at least one initialization word can include a checksum. The at least one initialization word can include a sequential access parameter. The at least one initialization word can include a random access parameter. [0016] The initialization event can include at least one of a reset event, a restart event or a power-on event. The system can also include a second storage device coupled to the at least one initialization register in the integrated circuit via the first bus. [0017] Yet another embodiment provides an interface device. The interface device including an interface circuit including at least one initialization register and an input/output processor, a first storage device coupled to the at least one initialization register in the integrated circuit via a first bus, at least one initialization word stored in the first storage device, the initialization word being electronically readable, the at least one initialization word being capable of being read into the at least one initialization register upon an initialization event. A system processor is coupled to the first storage device. The system processor being capable of writing the at least one initialization word into the first storage device. The system processor being coupled to the input/output processor by a system bus and a peripheral device coupled to the input/output processor by a peripheral device-specific bus. [0018] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an IC and an external initialization word storage device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading about Automatic initialization... Full patent description for Automatic initialization Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Automatic initialization patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Automatic initialization or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Application framework for use with net-centric application program architectures Next Patent Application: Pipeline architecture for use with net-centric application program architectures Industry Class: Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Automatic initialization patent info. 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